Clive Allen, 52, who has twice bossed Tottenham Hotspur on a caretaker basis having temporarily succeeded Martin Jol and then Juande Ramos, has effectively dismissed Merseyside duo Liverpool and Everton's chances of claiming the last, lucrative, Champions League qualification spot as he believes the race for fourth place in the Premier League will come down to who finishes stronger out of Spurs and Manchester United.

'Manchester United will be the biggest challengers for that fourth place,' Allen is quoted by talkSPORT to have said.

Allen goes on to cite the transfer business that United have already concluded as a potentially decisive factor in David Moyes rescuing the club's season and claiming fourth. The reigning title holders recruited former Chelsea playmaker Juan Mata for £37.1m in a transfer that is already paying dividends as the Spaniard pass master created a number of key chances during the club's recent 2-0 triumph over Cardiff City.

Allen continued: 'They’re the ones Spurs should fear. When you consider they have Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie back, along with Juan Mata’s addition, they’re the biggest danger.'

The evening after United recorded their 12th victory in the division, Spurs slumped to a 5-1 loss to a rampant Manchester City, closing the gap between United and Tottenham to just a hat-trick of points.

The White Hart Lane outfit are currently in fifth place, with 43 points collected after 23 matches and three behind Liverpool.